Oral suspension of prednisolone acetate

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to novel oral suspension formulation comprising prednisolone acetate, a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle and a thickening agent. The present invention further provides a method of treating patients in need of prednisolone with the novel formulation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/457,197, filed Jul. 13, 2006, which claims the benefit under 35U.S.C. §119(e) of the U.S. Provisional Application 60/705,370 filed Aug.4, 2005. Each of these applications is incorporated by reference in itsentirety and for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a pharmaceutical formulation for oraladministration comprising an effective amount of prednisolone acetate ina pharmaceutically acceptable, aqueous, suspension-stabilizing vehicle.

Corticosteroids are used to treat patients with inflammatory and immunediseases. Prednisolone is a corticosteroid that has been formulated intocapsules, tablets and liquid preparations for oral delivery. The baseform of prednisolone and the salt form, prednisolone sodium phosphate,are commercially available in oral liquid formulations. However, thebitter taste of the commercial compositions is described extensively inthe medical literature and contributes to poor patient compliance withmedical instructions for the use of the drug. U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,774describes aqueous solutions comprising a steroid selected from the groupof prednisolone, prednisolone sodium phosphate, prednisone and methylprednisolone. The solution described in the patent is described as beingpreferable to previously known formulations because no alcoholic solventis required and it is not a suspension. Suspensions of prednisolone arereported to be problematic because they are not stable and over time theactive agent settles out of the formulation and gives variable dosageamounts. U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,449 describes the use of a combination ofthree well known taste masking agents to achieve a pleasant tastingliquid pharmaceutical composition. Prednisolone and prednisolone sodiumphosphate are disclosed as bitter tasting drugs that may be used in theformulation.

Another form of prednisolone, prednisolone acetate, is commonly used formedicinal purposes. However, because of its poor aqueous solubility,prednisolone acetate is used in topical, parenteral and opthamalogicalformulations, not oral formulations. The use of the acetate form couldprovide a taste advantage because it is insoluble in the aqueousenvironment of the mouth, and therefore prevents the interaction of thebitter-tasting molecules of the prednisolone with the taste buds.

The present disclosure is to a novel, organoleptic, oral, liquidsuspension of prednisolone acetate that is an improvement overpreviously disclosed and commercialized oral prednisolone dosage forms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is to a pharmaceutical composition for oraldelivery comprising a pharmaceutically effective amount of prednisoloneacetate, pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle and a thickening agent. Thepresent composition contains between about 0.5 mg/mL to about 7 mg/mL ofprednisolone acetate. More preferably the concentration of prednisoloneacetate is between about 1 mg/mL to about 5 mg/mL. The most preferredcompositions of the present invention will deliver 5 mg/5 mLprednisolone acetate or 15 mg/5 mL prednisolone acetate.

The inventive formulation has prednisolone acetate dispersed in an oralformulation comprising a vehicle and a thickening agent. The aqueousvehicle may be comprised of glycerin, and the preferred thickening agentis carbomer.

The prednisolone acetate of the present invention is within a fine rangeof particle size. The median particle size of the prednisolone acetateis between about 1 μm to 30 μm, particularly between about 5 μm to 10μm, and more particularly between 6 μm to 8 μm. Ninety percent of theprednisolone acetate in the inventive composition has a median particlesize of greater than 1 μm and less than 30 μm.

The inventive composition further comprises pharmaceutically acceptableexcipients. The excipients include wetting agents, spreading agents,stabilizers, sweeteners and flavoring agents. The inventive compositionis organoleptically pleasing.

The novel formulation has a pH of between about 4.0 to about 5.9, morepreferably of between about 4.6 to about 5.4, most preferably 4.8 to5.2.

The inventive composition is comprised of from about 29 to about 64%water (w/w), up to about 50% glycerin (w/w), up to about 20% sorbitol(w/w), up to about 10% propylene glycol (w/w), up to about 3% surfactant(w/w) and up to about 1% of a thickening agent (w/w).

The pharmaceutical composition of the invention comprises the followingingredients a) 0.1% poloxamer 188; b) 50% glycerin; c) 5% sorbitolcrystalline; d) 5% propylene glycol; e) 0.065% disodium edetate; f) 0.2%sucralose; g) 0.44% carbomer; h) 0.04% butylparaben; and i) sodiumhydroxide to a pH of between about 4.8 to about 5.2.

The inventive formulation may be used to treat a patient in need of aneffective amount of the active pharmaceutical vehicle, prednisolone.

Among the medical conditions that may be treated by the formulation ofthe present invention are endocrine disorders, rheumatic disorders,collagen diseases, dermatologic diseases, allergic states, respiratorydiseases, hemaologic disorders, neoplastic diseases, edema,gastrointestinal diseases or nervous diseases using an effective amountof the orally delivered prednisolone acetate composition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In describing embodiments of the present invention, specific terminologyis employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is notintended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected. It is tobe understood that each specific element includes all technicalequivalents, which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similarpurpose. The above-described embodiments of the invention may bemodified or varied, and elements added or omitted, without departingfrom the invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in lightof the above teachings. Each reference cited herein is incorporated byreference as if each were individually incorporated by reference.

The formulation of the present invention is a palatable, oralformulation of prednisolone acetate. Prednisolone acetate has been usedin ophthalmic and parenteral medicinal products, but has not previouslybeen used in oral liquid preparations. Prednisolone acetate ispractically insoluble in water. The low solubility presents a formularychallenge during product development of an aqueous liquid oralpreparation. However, the use of the acetate form provides a tasteadvantage because the active does not dissolve in the aqueousenvironment of the mouth, and therefore prevents the interaction of thebitter-tasting molecules of the prednisolone with the taste buds.

The present invention is an aqueous suspension having a thickeningcomponent and a vehicle, or carrier, component and may include otherpharmaceutically acceptable excipients. The vehicle is pharmaceuticallyacceptable, aqueous and suspension-stabilizing. Prednisolone acetate isevenly dispersed in the semi-solid aqueous vehicle. The suspension has ahomogeneity so that the active ingredient is uniformly dispersed butundissovled in the vehicle. The formulation consists of mutuallycompatible components at room temperature. The suspension has acrystalline stability in that the prednisolone particles stay within atarget particle size range over time.

The vehicle component serves as the external phase of the suspensions.The vehicle may be comprised of water, glycerin, propylene glycol andmixtures thereof. The vehicle component may contain glycerin up to about50%. The vehicle may also comprise propylene glycol up to about 20% orfrom about 3% to about 10%. Purified water comprises the bulk of thevehicle component comprising from about 29% to about 64% of theformulation.

Purified water makes up the bulk of the vehicle component, comprisingfrom about 29% to 64% (w/w) of the formulation. Water concentration canbe less than about 50% (w/w) or even less than about 43% (w/w).

Thickening agents are pharmaceutically acceptable excipients that add adesired viscosity and flow to a formulation. Carbomers are synthetichigh molecular weight polymers of acrylic acid. In one embodiment,carbomer 943P (Carbopol 974P) has been found to be a suitablethickening, or gelling agent, providing good sensory appeal and texture.The rheology of the carbomer provides for a high yield value, low shearthinning quality, in non-thixotropic liquid formulations.

The viscosity of the carbomer gel is pH dependent. Carbomer gels exhibitmaximum viscosity at about pH 7.0. More acidic or basic pH's will causethe carbomer to lose viscosity. However, prednisolone acetate is moststable at slightly acidic pH's, and will degrade to undesirablebreakdown products at the higher pH. At neutral pH's, prednisoloneacetate will undergo oxidation and hydrolysis and form undesirable andless active degradation products. At a pH of 4.6 to 5.4, prednisoloneacetate is stable in the formulation and the carbomer may retain itsviscosity. The carbomer comprises up to about 1% (w/w) of the inventiveformulation. In particular, we have found that the carbomer of theinventive formulation should be between about 0.40% to about 0.50%, moreparticularly, about 0.40% to about 0.48%.

The oral formulation of prednisolone acetate is a spill-resistantformulation. Spill resistant oral formulations are more extensivelydescribed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,071,253, and 6,102,254,herein incorporated by reference.

The pharmaceutical suspension comprising of the invention hasprednisolone acetate uniformly dispersed in an aqueous vehicle, theactive ingredient remaining in suspension without agitation during theproduct shelf-life. The shelf life may be up to about six, twelve,eighteen, twenty-four months, thirty months, or thirty-six months. Thesuspension has antimicrobial activity, is pharmaceutically effective andmeets applicable regulatory requirements as would be understood by aperson of ordinary skill. The viscosity may be about 5,000 to about15,000 cps, about 5,000 to about 14,800 cps, about 9,000 to about 11,000cps, or about 9,500 to about 10,500 cps. In inventive pharmaceuticalsuspensions there is no crystalline growth during a heat-cool study forthree days at a temperature range of about 8° C. to about 45° C. Theactive ingredient particles may be crystals that neither dissolve orgrow substantially when the sample is heated e.g. to 45° C. and cooledto room temperature repeatedly.

The formulation is dosed by volume, and specific gravity values wereused to estimate the prednisolone acetate concentration in thecomposition. The 5 mg/mL dose was calculated, based on specific gravityto be 0.097% (w/w), which is equivalent to 0.087% (w/w) of theprednisolone base form. The 15 mg/mL dose was calculated to be about0.293% (w/w), which is equivalent to 0.262% of prednisolone base form.

The particle size of the active pharmaceutical ingredient may haveimportant effects on the bioavailability of a formulation. Smallerparticle sizes have increased surface area and will dissolve faster thanlarger particles. However, decreasing the particle size may cause someagglomeration of the particles, and the increased surface area canresult in faster degradation of the compound due to oxidation andhydrolysis. In the inventive formulation, a fine particle size was foundto achieve the desired bioavailablity. The prednisolone acetate of theinventive formulation has a median particle size of approximately fromabout 1 μm to about 30 μm, more preferably about 5 μm to about 20 μm,most preferably from about 6 μm to about 8 μm. The particle size may beachieved using such methods air-jet milling, ball milling, mortarmilling or any other method known in the art for decreasing particlesize. For example, the prednisolone acetate particles of the disclosedformulation were micronized using a stainless steel, air-jet mill with agrinding chamber diameter of four inches (Sturtevant, Hanover, Mass.,U.S.A., model no. SDM-4.)

The size of the particles may be measured using a light scatteringdevice, sedimentation methods, centrifugal force measurements, or anymethod known to one skilled in the art. By means of an example, theMatersizer 2000 manufactured by Malvern Instruments, Ltd., Malvern U.K.,may be used to measure the particle size.

Pharmaceutical excipients are pharmaceutically acceptable ingredientsthat are essential constituents of virtually all pharmaceuticalproducts. Excipients serve many purposes in the formulation process. Theinventive pharmaceutical suspensions may comprise at least oneadditional component selected from the group consisting of excipients,surface active agents, dispersing agents, sweetening agents, flavoringagents, coloring agents, preservatives, oily vehicles, solvents,suspending agents, dispersing agents, wetting agents, emulsifyingagents, demulcents, buffers, salts, spreading agents, antioxidants,antibiotics, antifungal agents and stabilizing agents.

Spreading agents may be added to the vehicle component. Polyols, such asmalitol, mannitol, polyethylene glycol and sorbitol may be added to thevehicle components to adjust the spreadability in the spoon bowl uponpouring. The present embodiment may contain sorbitol, in a concentrationof less than 5%.

The suspensions of the present invention may also contain EdetateDisodium (EDTA). EDTA is a chelating agent that forms a stablewater-soluble complex with alkaline earth and heavy metal ions. It isuseful as an antioxidant synergist, sequestering metal ions that mightotherwise catalyze autoxidation reactions. EDTA may also havesynergistic effects as an antimicrobial when used in combination withother preservatives (Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients 4^(th) Ed.).

The suspension formulations may require a crystal conditioningsurfactant, i.e. a wetting agent. The hydrophobic properties ofprednisolone acetate may benefit from a wetting agent to disperse thesteroid in the formulation. A concentration of from about 0.05% to about0.5% poloxamer 188 was found to be effective at wetting the prednisoloneacetate without excessive foaming and dispersion of the suspension.

The present formulation is an improvement over previously describedprednisolone suspensions because the ingredient remains suspendedindefinitely, without agitation; that is without stirring or shaking.The dispensed dose is always uniform over the shelf life of the product.The formulation of the invention can not be shaken easily, so theparticles remain suspended without shaking.

The suspension has antimicrobial activity. Propylparaben (up to about0.04%) and butylparaben (0.018% to about 0.18%) are suitable. Otherantimicrobial excipients may also be used. These suspensions arealcohol-free.

The organoleptic ingredients improve the taste and appearance and do notnegatively affect the suspension stability. The organoleptic agents inthe following examples include coloring and flavoring agents, sweetenersand masking agents.

Mutual compatibility of the components means that the components do notseparate in preparation and storage for up to the equivalent of twoyears at room temperature (as indicated by three month intervals ofaccelerated stability testing at 40° centigrade and at 75% relativehumidity). Storage stability means that the materials do not lose theirdesirable properties during storage for the same period. Preferredcompositions do not exhibit a drop in viscosity of more than 50% or anincrease in viscosity of more than 100% during that period.

The following examples further illustrate the invention, but should notbe construed as limiting the invention in any manner.

Example 1 The Prednisolone Acetate Oral Suspension was Formulated toContain the Following Ingredients

TABLE I Composition of Oral Prednisolone Acetate Suspension 5 mg/5 mLINGREDIENTS (w/w %) 15 mg/mL Prednisolone Acetate 0.097 0.293 Poloxamer188 0.1 0.1 Glycerin 50 50 Sorbitol Crystalline 5 5 Propylene Glycol 5 5Edetate Disodium 0.065 0.065 Sucralose 0.2 0.2 Artificial Cherry Flavor0.15 0.15 Bell Flavor Masking Agent 0.2 0.2 Carbomer 934 0.44 0.44Butylparaben 0.04 0.04 Purified water to 100% to 100% NaOH pH 4.6-5.4 pH4.6-5.4

Example 2 Comparison of different Prednisolone Actives for SensoryEvaluation

A small sample of volunteers compared the different formulations ofprednisolone for taste and flavor. Results are given in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Sensory Perception following different samples of PrednisoloneFormulations Product Description Initial Taste After Taste CommerciallyAvailable Slightly sweet, Persistent, very Prednisolone intense wildbitter 5 mg/5 ml cherry Commercially Available Moderately sweet, Delayedmoderately Prednisolone sodium mild raspberry bitter unpleasantphosphate taste persists for 5 mg./5 ml long time Taro PrednisolonePleasantly sweet, Delayed slightly Phosphate Experimental cherryflavored bitter, Intensity Syrup 5 mg/5 mL increases with timePrednisolone Acetate Pleasantly sweet, No bitterness Suspension 5 mg/mLcherry flavored perceived

Example 3 pH Screen Stability

Stability testing was performed on 1.0 kg portions of a 5.0 kgexperimental batch of 5 mg/5 mL prednisolone acetate. NaOH was added tothe portions to give various pH values (Batch A-E) and packaged in 4ounce amber PETG bottles. The samples were left at the environmentallystressed conditions of 40° centigrade or 50° centigrade for one month.HPLC methods were used to measure the percent of prednisolone acetateretained in the bottle. The control sample used was a 5 mg/5 mLprednisolone acetate suspension exposed at room temperature and sampledafter 4 months. The data is summarized in Table 3.

As demonstrated by the results shown in Table 3, in the pH range of 5.0to 6.2, the micronized prednisolone acetate is more stable at the lowerpH values.

TABLE 3 Stability of Prednisolone Acetate Oral Suspension (varying pH)Batch (%)Prednisolone (%)Prednisolone (%)Prednisolone No. pH Acetate¹(RT) Acetate¹ (40° C.) Acetate¹ (50° C.) A 5.02 96.7 96.7 95.2 B 5.3996.1 96.1 93.0 C 5.71 95.4 95.4 81.7 D 5.90 92.8 92.8 44.3 E 6.22 87.387.3 67.4

Example 4 Suspension Dissolution

Dissolution tests are a qualitative tool that provides information aboutthe biological availability of a drug formulation. Experimentally,suspension formulations are considered to disintegrate equivalently totablet formulations, therefore dissolution testing is done comparingsuspensions to tablets. A standard dissolution test (USP Apparatus 2(paddle)) was followed to compare the prednisolone acetate suspension toa commercially available 5 mg tablet of prednisolone. As shown in FIG.1, the dissolution curves of the suspensions were very similar to thedissolution curve for the tablet following a 15 minute period.

TABLE 4 Dissolution of Prednisolone Acetate Suspensions v. PrednisoloneTablets Prednisolone Acetate Suspension Prednisolone Tablets TIME 15mg/5 ml 5 mg/5 ml 5 mg 5 48 45 69 15 85 82 93 30 95 93 96 45 97 95 98 6097 96 98

Example 5

Twenty three volunteers (male and female non- or ex-smokers) were orallyadministered a single 5 mg dose of prednisolone in the morning after aten hour overnight fast. The study design was a randomized, 6-sequence,3-period, crossover design. Either 5 mL of a 5 mg/mL prednisoloneacetate suspension, or one 5 mg tablet of a commercially availableproduct, was administered. Blood samples were taken at determinedintervals. Pharmacokinetic parameters used to evaluate and compare therelative bioavailability, and therefore bioequivalence, of the twoformulations of prednisolone after a single oral dose administrationunder fasting conditions were C_(max), AUC_(T), AUC_(∞), K_(el) andT_(1/2el).

-   -   C_(max)—Maximum Concentration.    -   AUC_(T)—Area under the Concentration-time Curve Using the        Trapezoidal Method to the Last Measurable Concentration;    -   AUC_(∞)—Area under the Concentration-time Curve extrapolated to        infinity;    -   K_(el)—Elimination Rate Constant;    -   T_(1/2el)—Terminal Half-Life.        Bioequivalence was determined using the 90% confidence interval        for the exponential of the difference between the tablet and the        suspension. The test met the 80.00-125% confidence interval        limits with a statistical power of at least 80%.

TABLE 5 Bioequivalency: Prednisolone 5 mg/5 mL Suspension versus 5 mg/5mL Syrup versus 5 mg Tablets Following a 5 mg administration/FastingState (100% prelims N = 23/23) Prednisolone 5 mg/ml Prednisolone 5 mgSuspension Tablet Coefficient Coefficient PARAMETER MEAN of VariationMEAN of Variation C_(max) (ng/mL) 160.90 15.8 176.27 18.7 T_(max)(hours) 1.33 41.6 1.00 33.2 AUC_(T) (ng · h/mL) 821.73 20.2 812.39 17.7AUC_(∞) (ng · h/mL) 852.23 19.6 846.53 17.1 K_(el) (hour⁻¹) 0.2681 13.40.2629 9.7 T_(1/2el) (hours) 2.63 12.6 2.66 10.0 For Tmax, the median ispresented.

In describing embodiments of the present invention, specific terminologyis employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is notintended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected. It is tobe understood that each specific element includes all technicalequivalents, which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similarpurpose. The above-described embodiments of the invention may bemodified or varied, and elements added or omitted, without departingfrom the invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in lightof the above teachings. Each reference cited herein is incorporated byreference as if each were individually incorporated by reference.

1. A pharmaceutical composition for oral delivery, comprising apharmaceutically effective amount of prednisolone acetate particles insuspension in the composition, wherein the prednisolone acetate has amedian particle size in the range of about 1 μm to about 30 μm andwherein the composition, when administered to humans, exhibitspharmacokinetic parameters within the 80-125% confidence interval, witha statistical power of at least 80%, of one or more of the followingvalues: a. C_(max) of 176.27 ng/mL; b. T_(max) of 1.00 hour; c. AUC_(T)of 812.39 ng·h/mL; d. AUC_(∞) of 846.53 ng·h/mL; e. K_(el) of 0.2629hr⁻¹; and f. T_(1/2 el) of 2.66 hours; and wherein the composition issuitable for oral delivery.
 2. The pharmaceutical composition of claim1, wherein the composition is bioequivalent to a 5 mg tablet ofprednisolone.
 3. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1, comprisingfrom about 0.5 mg/mL to about 5 mg/mL of prednisolone acetate.
 4. Thepharmaceutical composition of claim 1, further comprising a thickeningagent.
 5. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 4, wherein thethickening agent is a carbomer.
 6. The pharmaceutical composition ofclaim 1, further comprising a wetting agent.
 7. The pharmaceuticalcomposition of claim 6, wherein the wetting agent is poloxamer.
 8. Thepharmaceutical composition of claim 1, comprising carbomer andpoloxamer.
 9. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1, wherein the pHis between about 4.0 to about 5.9.
 10. The pharmaceutical composition ofclaim 1, wherein the pH is between about 4.8 to about 5.2.
 11. Thepharmaceutical composition of claim 1, comprising from about 0.5 mg/mLto about 5 mg/mL of prednisolone acetate, water, glycerin, sorbitol inan amount up to about 20% (w/w), propylene glycol in an amount up toabout 20% (w/w), wetting agent in an amount up to about 3% (w/w) and athickening agent in an amount up to about 1% (w/w).
 12. Thepharmaceutical composition of claim 1, comprising: a. from about 5 mg/5mL to about 15 mg/5 mL prednisolone acetate in suspension in thecomposition; b. 0.1% poloxamer 188; c. 50% glycerin; d. 5% sorbitolcrystalline; e. 5% propylene glycol; f. 0.065% edetate disodium; g. 0.2%sucralose; h. carbomer in an amount up to about 1%; i. 0.04%butylparaben; and j. sodium hydroxide.
 13. The pharmaceuticalcomposition of claim 1, wherein the composition exhibits an in vitrodissolution profile of about 82% to about 85% released after about 15minutes, about 93% to about 95% released after about 30 minutes, about95% to about 97% released after about 45 minutes and about 96% to about97% released after about 60 minutes.
 14. A method for treating a patientin need of prednisolone, comprising the step of orally administering atherapeutically effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition ofclaim
 1. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the patient is sufferingfrom a medical condition selected from the group consisting of endocrinedisorders, rheumatic disorders, collagen diseases, dermatologicdiseases, allergic states, respiratory diseases, hemaologic disorders,neoplastic diseases, edema, gastrointestinal diseases and nervousdiseases.
 16. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1, comprisingcarbomer and a wetting agent.